Method of cultivation

Jerusalem artichoke

Albik variety with white tubers and round shape, good tolerate the climatic conditions in Poland. The stems reach approx. 3 - 4 m high. Collection falls in the spring or winter during the thaw. Plants produce underground runners at the ends of which the formation of tubers with a convex mesh and irregular shape. Tuber yields are an average of 10 to 30 t / ha.

 

Soil requirements

The cultivation of the artichoke is considered the optimum average soil fertile, airy, with a pH of 5.5. These soils should not be wetland (due to a decrease in winter hardiness of plants). Remember to build the humus content in the soil. Jerusalem artichoke does well both during cold weather and during drying is also resistant to the disease. Properly conducted cultivation can be operated for a period of up to 10 years.

 

Planting

The tubers can be planted in the spring (March-April) and autumn (October-December). When planting artichokes autumn, we gain additional 30-50 days vegetation. However, this has meaning only in the first year of plantation. When planted spring (March-June) plowed field remains for the winter in acute skibie. In the spring of conduct harrowing, organic fertilization and cultivating. Other procedures are the same as in the autumn planting, only the tubers are planted shallowly (5-10 cm). To fill the need for 1 ha 1-2 tons of tubers, depending on their size. In the following years is not planted new bulbs. Those that remain are sufficient to obtain a satisfactory yield. After harvest soil should be
fertilize with organic fertilizers and set new rows with listers. Planting and spacing are similar to the cultivation of potatoes. On larger acreages can be used for planting potatoes. For optimum spacing width between the considered of 70-100 cm, the distance should be in the range of 50-60 cm, which corresponds holder 3-4 plants per 1 m2 ;. Bulbs are placed at a depth of 10-15 cm. During excavations never manage to collect all the tubers, remnants Jerusalem artichoke well overwinter giving spring, in the same place, the beginning of a new plantation. Care is limited to equalize the field after harvest and possibly as naturally regenerated plantation is too thick, thinning the plants in the spring listers. This procedure also sets the rows and destroy weeds. It is performed when the plants reach 10 - 15 cm tall, in dry and sunny weather. Studded plants, like potatoes, after several days of re-emerge from the soil. Jerusalem artichoke plants are very expansive and after use Hiller is not necessary to further destruction of weed and perform protective treatments, because plantations in Europe will not attack any pests or diseases.

 

Fertilization

To use the plantation for several years, use manure 30-40 t / h, use it once every 3-4 years. Fertilization make the tubers after harvest only fertilizers and improving soil properties qualified for use in organic farming, which excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers.

 

Harvest

The tubers are harvested from October to spring. Harvesting silage is used, as in the case of corn, self-propelled forage harvester included a trailer for its transportation. To get a high yield of tubers, silage cuts in November or December, but the best do this winter, when the soil is frozen. In this way, the kneading is minimized and damage to wintering tubers. Then just copy the digger elevators tubers. In this embodiment it achieved higher yields puffs of about 30%. After harvesting the tubers should be-sow organic fertilizers and listers set new rows.

 

Care in the later years

The remaining bulbs in the soil will be in the coming years intensively grew back, causing excessive density of the canopy, which negatively affect the volume of production obtained. Plantations, which was collected in early spring the tubers should be plowed (cultivator before use organic fertilization in a similar way as the spring establishing plantations). Jerusalem artichokes will be grew out the rest in the soil of small tubers (remains of approx. 30% of the yield produced). After emergence do the rows of plantations cutting the plants with spacing strips with a width of 60-80 cm. Then, a cutting (also with flat knives hoe) across the rows, leaving clumps of plants at a distance of 50-60 cm. If interrows are suckers, treatment should be repeated. With the intensive production of tubers (eg. Consumption) it is recommended that a manual thinning of clumps of plants.

 

Ecological agriculture 

Farming system, which excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides and growth regulators and synthetic additives. Agriculture is characterized by production in a closed cycle soil - plant - animal, while maintaining high self-sufficiency. Is treated as a way of life in symbiosis with nature and environmental goals prevail over economic considerations.
 

Profits from the assumption organic farm:
 

• Obtaining a trademark product of organic farming.
• The right to sell organic products at higher prices due to their quality.
• Additional payments to agricultural land.